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IDC: Dollarwise, Windows still leads
the server market
By Mary Jo Foley | March 2, 2011, 8:35am PST

The researchers at International Data Corp. (IDC) released their latest worldwide server market
share data this week. As was true in the last quarter of 2009, Windows servers are far and away
the leader in share as measured by of percentage of revenue, the firm found.
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While Windows’ share was up slightly, to 42.1 percent of server OS share by revenue, Linux was
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also up, reaching 17 percent in Q4 2010, according to IDC. Unix’s share was down, hitting 25.6
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The fast-rising star in the server OS space was IBM’s z/OS mainframe operating system, IDC
reported. A year ago, IDC didn’t break out z/OS’s share by revenue, but in the last quarter of
2010, that number was 11.3 percent. b
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IDC noted that factory revenues for the fourth quarter of 2010 were up 15.3 percent year over
year, to $15.0 billion. Shipments for Q4 2010 hit 2.1 million units. IDC said Q4 2010 marked the
highest quarterly revenue in the server market in three years.

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RE: IDC: Dollarwise, Windows still leads the server market
makrejktt20-24353590937038825154384472573847 Updated - 10th Nov
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jk_10 2nd Mar 2011
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As I said before, while Linux people buzzing Linux share increase, they should realized: Software &
Five Nines: The
"Linux growth + Unix growth = negative". this is always true. Question is: when Unix is Services Safari
Next Gen
gone in the planet, where will Linux go?
Datacenter Software as
Forrester Research Services
Reply
Friending Storage Bits
Facebook Tech Broiler
Gamification Tom Foremski:
That is revenue percentage, and does not represent server Googling Google IMHO
0 The ToyBox
OS market share. GreenTech
DonnieBoy 2nd Mar 2011 Pastures Unboxing Asia
Hardware 2.0 View from China
There are more and more sites using Linux supported by their own internal groups and
pay nothing. Just look at the number of servers at Google alone. Home Theater Virtually Speaking
Identity Matters ZDNet Education

Reply iGeneration ZDNet Government
India IT ZDNet Health
Irregular Zero Day
Enterprise
Sure LSE just switched it on IT Project Failures
LBiege 2nd Mar 2011
0
Laptops &
Desktops
... and look what happened: Flat out crash from week one.
Linux and Open
Source
London Calling

That's not True Donnieboy. Companies that do serious
0 Blog Archive
business
Will Farrell 2nd Mar 2011
March 2012 July 2011
February 2012 June 2011
@DonnieBoy
January 2012 May 2011
which is any company will be paying for support, so those numbers are accurate.
Maybe a garage based porn site will do it alone, but not the companies that matter. December 2011 April 2011


November 2011 March 2011
Linux usage in the chart is accurate I have to tell you. October 2011 February 2011
September 2011 January 2011
August 2011

RE: IDC: Dollarwise, Windows still leads the server
0 White Papers, Webcasts, & Resources
market
WilErz Updated - 2nd Mar 2011
HP DL980 Customer Chronicles
Since first introduced to the market, the
@DonnieBoy next-generation HP ProLiant ... (Hewlett-
Packard (HP))
The IDC figures refer to server revenue, not to OS revenue. If a firm plan to run Linux Download Now
on a server, they've still got the buy the hardware, and they bloody well aren't going
GE Healthcare Case Study
to buy it with Windows Server or Unix installed. They're going to buy it either with
GE Centricity EDI, part of GE Healthcare
Linux installed or with nothing installed. (Note that the figures only add up to 96 per
IT's Centricity portfolio ... (Hewlett-Packard
cent, leaving 4 per cent for servers shipped with other OSes or no OS).
(HP))
Download Now

2012 Cloud Storage Survey
What is your cloud level?
WilErz, are you sure about the numbers?
Richard Flude 2nd Mar 2011
0
It's probably no secret to you, data ...
(Oracle)
"They're going to buy it either with Linux installed or with nothing installed. (Note Download Now
that the figures only add up to 96 per cent, leaving 4 per cent for servers shipped
with other OSes or no OS)."

Far greater the 4% of x86 / x64 servers ship with no OS. I don't believe your
definition is correct.

The figures appear to count only those with an OS installed (4% being other).

0
market
WilErz Updated - 3rd Mar 2011

@ Richard Flude

According to Channel Register, IDC include servers shipped with no operating
system. However, they have a method of guesstimating which operating systems are
installed. The method isn't specified, but an obvious one would be to survey a
random sample of customers provided by the vendors, asking which OSes they
installed on their recently purchased servers.

So, I was wrong. The IDC figures do indeed include servers that ship without an OS,
as I thought, but most of these servers aren't assigned to the 'other' category.
Rather, they're assigned to categories according to an internal IDC estimation
procedure.

The key points stand that: (a) the figures refer to server hardware revenue, (b) Linux
requires hardware, (c) servers that ship with no OS installed are included in the
figures. So, unless IDC are conspiring against Linux (I'm sure some zealots will claim
this), there's no reason at all to believe that the IDC figures understate Linux's share
of server shipment revenue (or unit shipments when unit figures are available, as in
Mary Jo Foley's article last June, which I refer to below).

0
market
daikon 2nd Mar 2011

@jk_10
What does Linux have to do with Unix?

Reply

Obivious...
jk_10 2nd Mar 2011
0

@daikon Linux is there only because of existence of Unix (don't think I have to
explain). Imagine Unix is gone, zero, will Linux still have a share? where will it go?


up? down?

0
market
daikon 2nd Mar 2011

jk_10,
Linux will always have a share.

jk_10: The market share of Workloads handled by
0
Linux / Unix is going up.
DonnieBoy 2nd Mar 2011

It is just the revenue share that is going down, because of the ease of internal
groups supporting supporting Linux without having to pay for the OS. This only
shows how expensive Windows servers are.

I can tell you where it went in our shop
terry flores 2nd Mar 2011
0

@jk_10

My major project last year was standing up a 1000-core HPC cluster running Linux, done
1.5 months ahead of schedule, total software cost $485 (some monitoring app that our
architect was in love with). On the Windows side we decommissioned 8 Windows
systems, or about 20 percent of our remaining M$ server boxes.

Reply

She was careful to repeat "in terms of revenue"
TripleII-21189418044173169409978279405827 2nd Mar 2011
0

@jk_10
Since a paid for server is typically 1/3 the price of the Windows equivalent, and of course
the massive base of "free" servers installed via local IT, in terms of marketshare,
Windows server is not growing nearly as fast.

Your statement about Linux is eating Unix is very 2004ish. Linux was a natural
replacement for Unix at their EOL, but with the ease of implementing Linux servers
today, it is pretty easy to replace Windows now once the proprietary shackles are dealt
with.

TripleII

Reply

0
market
WilErz 2nd Mar 2011

@TripleII

In terms of volume, Windows Server has an even higher market share. Unix is
typically used on very expensive hardware, and as users of this hardware migrate to
Linux, this adds a lot to the Linux revenue share but very little to the Linux unit
share.

0
market
WilErz 2nd Mar 2011

@ Richard Flude


I refer you to Mary Jo Foley's article from last June, 'IDC: Windows Server still rules the
server roost'. In it, she explains that the IDC percentages don't add up to 100 because
IDC include an unspecified 'other' category. She also includes unit shipments (for
2009Q4 and 2010Q1), which show that Windows is even more dominant in unit terms
than in revenue terms.

Reply

Right. Figure doesn't include servers shipped with no
0
OS
Richard Flude 3rd Mar 2011

There's a significant proportion of servers (much greater than 4%) where OS is
installed onsite. Including windows volume license and site license customers.

0
market
WilErz 3rd Mar 2011

@Richard Flude

According to whom?

Revenue costs of a Free system
T o m 6 29th Mar
0

usage would be a more useful method of comparing a free system (linux) against one
that charges (Windows). Obviously the one that always charges has higher revenue
than one that doesn't.

A classic case of misinformation through useless stats.
Regards from Tom

Reply

The article may be true, but ...
0

The license "revenue" from our 28 Windows servers was more than the "revenue" from our
840 Linux servers, since the license cost for the 840 servers was zero. If the intent of the
article was to point out the higher cost for Windows servers, I guess that's true.

Reply

Yes, you hit the nail on the head. The percentage of
0
workloads handled by

Windows is very low, but, for the small niches where Windows server is used, they are
paying through the nose.

Reply

0
market
condelirios 2nd Mar 2011

@DonnieBoy Niches? HUH? Windows dominates in the server market. It isn't even
close. 40% market share in this space is huge. Competing with free OS Linux, and
the Traditional Unix servers and winning is what Windows is doing. Niche = Linux in
both servers and desktops.


Think
0
Tim Patterson 2nd Mar 2011

@conde...

Use your brain. "as a percentage of revenue"

This does not tell us how many servers are in operation nor their OSs.

Many thousands of Linux installs were free. Have a few good Linux guys? No need to
pay Redhat or Novell. Of course this won't count in IDC's silly little "percentage of
revenue" survey.

Still buying boatloads of Windows servers
honeymonster 2nd Mar 2011
0

@terry flores
Customers obviously find that Windows gives them value for money. Otherwise they
would not buy Windows servers.

Reply

0
market
itguy08 2nd Mar 2011

@honeymonster

1. They don't know better.
2. If you pull Windows servers out, watch your OS license go up. Or you will get a
visit from the BSA goons...

MS has resorted to #2 quite a few times.

I didn't say anything negative about Windows
0

@honeymonster

As you point out, there are many customers who find Windows Servers suitable for
their purposes and budgets. Microsoft is in no danger of going out of business. I just
pointed out that you have to be careful when making comparisons between
marketshare based on different metrics like units shipped or revenues.

itguy08 likes spewing BS
0

@itguy08
everything you say is one big lie, so just grow up or go home.
You are nothing but a boldface lier.

MS can continue to compete against Linux
P. Douglas 2nd Mar 2011
0

@terry flores,

As long as MS continues to differentiate Windows server from Linux on core and
expanded features, as well as on overall abilities, ease-of-use, and value, Windows
server can continue to grow and compete against Linux. (It's not all about price, or else
Apple would be a failure in the computer market today.) E.g. having software which
allows you to use 3D visualization to zoom in and out, and see what's going on your


whole network, would be fantastic!

Reply

You need 840 Linux servers to do the work of 28
0
Windows servers?
Will Farrell Updated - 2nd Mar 2011

@terry flores

That's just insane.

Reply

Is this an attempt at humor?
terry flores Updated - 3rd Mar 2011
0

@Will Farrell

If it was, I pity you. If it wasn't, I pity you even more.

The two projects are unrelated. We have been phasing out Windows as a server
platform for the last two years after our licensing costs from Microsoft skyrocketed.

Is the hardware free too?
0
WilErz 2nd Mar 2011

@terry flores

You'd have a point if the figures referred to OS licence revenue, rather than to server
hardware revenue.

Reply

Mean averages from IDC, Gartner, and Netcraft...
olePigeon 2nd Mar 2011
0

Mean averages from IDC, Gartner, and Netcraft put usage marketshare at approximately:

Windows: 41.59%
Linux: 41.02%
UNIX: 5.54%

So with Linux at roughly 41% of the usage share but only 17% of the revenue share,
Windows looks to be very expensive (but not as expensive as UNIX.)

Reply

These are also only a percentage of websites using a given
0
OS. The biggest

sites use Linux / Unix almost exclusively. So, if there were a way to measure the
percentage of workloads handled by Linux, it would be very high. It is mostly just small
websites using Windows.

Reply

The article omitted the obnoxious fee Linux
LBiege 2nd Mar 2011
0

... administrators charge you when deciphering those 500 command-line arguments that


you don't run into in a Windows environment. The TCO of Linux is exorbitant.

Reply

Not anymore.
TripleII-21189418044173169409978279405827 2nd Mar 2011
0

@LBiege
That was true 10 years ago, when Linux required a LOT of expertise and the talent
pool was a lot smaller. Linux is common, mainstream, the talent pool is now about
equal, the premiums are nowhere near what they used to be. Now, let's look at the
undisputed difference in cost. Even assuming that it is a one for one servers
maintained to IT person ratio, the premium is trivial compared to the license costs
and CALs and cost of feature creep associated with Windows server.

It think that is actually why, as carefully stated, Windows leads in revenue
marketshare.

TripleII

Your numbers are abnormally high for the Linux number
Mister Spock 2nd Mar 2011
0

@olePigeon
It would appear that your math is in error, as Linux is much smaller then the number you
have chosen.

Reply

0
market
kirovs@... 4th Mar 2011

@Mister Spock
Says you and group of Soviet scientists.

selliott80919 2nd Mar 2011
0

Mary,

The report references "factory revenue". I would assume that these figures are hardware
percentage of revenue figures, not software license figures? The fact that Linux is "free"
isn't relevant to the figures if that is the case.

Reply

NO, it is the revenue from the OS itself. Windows actual
0
percentage of the

server market is very low, it is just VERY expensive.

Reply

0
market
noagenda 2nd Mar 2011

@DonnieBoy

Apparently in your zeal to discredit all things MS, you didn't get a chance to read the


linked IDC report. It is not OS revenue but hardware by OS revenue.
"?IBM's System z servers running z/OS experienced the second consecutive quarter
of positive revenue growth, with 69.1% year-over-year growth in 4Q10 to $1.7
billion. This is the fastest quarterly revenue growth IDC has ever reported for IBM
mainframes, as systems running the z/OS operating platform accounted for 11.3% of
all server revenue in 4Q10 and IBM System z was the only platform outside of Linux
and Windows to experience positive revenue growth in the quarter.
?Linux server demand also improved in 4Q10 with revenue growing 29.3% to $2.5
billion when compared with the fourth quarter of 2009. Linux servers now represent
17.0% of all server revenue, up 1.8 points over 4Q09. Shipments of servers running
Linux increased 9.8% year over year, totaling more than 450,000 units.
?Microsoft Windows server demand was positively impacted by the x86 server
market refresh as hardware revenue increased 16.8% year over year. Quarterly
revenue of $6.3 billion for Windows servers represented 42.1% of overall quarterly
factory revenue. The 1.5 million server shipments are the highest quarterly total ever
reported for Windows servers.
?UNIX server revenue was relatively flat with a 0.4% decrease when compared to
4Q09, as the demand for the platform stabilized in the quarter. Worldwide Unix
revenues were $3.8 billion for the quarter, representing 25.6% of quarterly server
spending. "

0
market
Mythos7 2nd Mar 2011

@DonnieBoy

Another brilliant DonnieBoy statement. Windows Servers totally dominate the
enterprise market.

You keep telling yourself that, son
0

@DonnieBoy
and maybe it will come true one day in the real world not the one you decided to
make and live in.

The actual Windows usage percentage is FAR AHEAD of actual Linux usage, so just
deal with it and grow up.

0
market
1773 2nd Mar 2011

@DonnieBoy Are you a MS hater or Google/Linux fan ? How come I see you
commenting only on Microsoft related posts ? What are your thoughts on spyware
infested apps making it to the Android Market ?

Donnieboy was MIA
0

@1773
on the gmail lost data crash. Imagine that. He's looks like he MIA on all the stories
about Google problems, issues, and failures.

I guess he ran out of excuses for Google and needs time to build up more, or is tired
of being embarrased, or maybe both.

0
market
kirovs@... 4th Mar 2011

@noagenda
Care to normalize by hardware price then? No? I thought so.
My guess is Unix share is dipping faster than explained, Windows has less and Linux


more. Of course it is just a guess, but this is what this report is as well.

The Linux appologists are out in force once again
0

So, Windows has the lion share of the market, booth installed base and revenue but I have
to laugh at the ABM's assertion that Linux is far ahead in actual usage because "its free so
they can't count it."

Lol!!!

Reply

0
market
daikon 2nd Mar 2011

@Will Farrell
Where do you see any appologists? From what information did you come up with that
actual Windows usage if far ahead of actual Linux usage?

Reply

0
market
WilErz 2nd Mar 2011

@daikon

Mary Jo Foley reported IDC's unit figures for 2010Q1 and 2009Q4 last June, in an
article titled "IDC: Windows Server still rules the server roost":

Q1 2010 units

Windows 1,379,487 (75.3%)
Unix 65,451 (3.6%)
Linux 380,429 (20.8%)

Q4 2009 units

Windows 1,434,225 (73.9%)
Unix 84,851 ( 4.4%)
Linux 412,041 (21.2%)

Q1 2010 dollars

Windows $5.1 billion (48.9%)
Unix $2.3 billion (22.2%)
Linux $1.7 billion (16.2%)

Q4 2009 dollars

Windows $5.4 billion (41.6%)
Unix $3.9 billion (29.9%)
Linux $1.9 billion (14.7%)

As you can see, Windows dominates in terms of server unit shipments.

0
market
daikon 2nd Mar 2011

@WilErz
So you are telling me that Will based his comment of actual Windows usage is ahead
of actual Linux usage off this report.


Hahaha...but...
james347 2nd Mar 2011
0

...not for long. Kiss your sugar daddy good bye!

Reply

0
market
Mythos7 2nd Mar 2011

@james347

They have been saying that for a long time. Maybe it will come come true some year,
decade or century.

Reply

makrejktt20-24353590937038825154384472573847 Updated - 10th Nov
0

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